A SCHOOLGIRL drank a bottle of beer in minutes at a roadside seller. Two of her classmates just looked on. Don't believe it? This happened in Guangzhou recently.

But the girl might not be able to do it any more.

On November 9, China passed a new rule on underage (未成年的) drinking. Kids are not allowed to buy or drink alcohol (酒). Shops are not allowed to sell it to them and should have warning signs.

The rule will go into effect on January 1 of next year.

A 1999 Chinese law said kids couldn't drink. But "Underage kids still can get alcohol easily, even in those shops with warning signs," said Zhou Jianjun, an official from Shanghai Sunshine Community Youth Centre (上海阳光社区青少年服务中心).

Experts like Zhu hope that the new rule can work this time. It sets a 2,000 yuan fine (罚款) for those who sell alcohol to kids. The l999 law didn't say anything about punishment (惩罚).

Many countries have a legal drinking age. The legal age in most countries is 16 or 18; in the US it is 21. China doesn't have a legal drinking age. But in China "underage" means under 18.

In countries with such laws, underage drinkers sometimes can be sent to prison. Shopkeepers who sell alcohol to them can be fined, often as much as US$2,500.

If kids try to buy alcohol, sellers will ask them to show proof of age. In the US or UK, people can show a driver's licence or passport (护照).

How to say no to alcohol

"Just one won't hurt you", "It's cool. Everybody drinks, right?" How can you refuse (拒绝) these invitations to drink: